Dr Claire Asher
@claireasher.bsky.social
Freelance science writer & communicator, occasional comedian & opportunistic wildlife photographer. Co-author of Brave Green World. Host of the Robot Talk Podcast (@robottalkpod.bsky.social).
She / her.
http://claireasher.co.uk/
She / her.
http://claireasher.co.uk/
Pinned
Dr Claire Asher
@claireasher.bsky.social
· Oct 24
Hello new followers 👋 If you're new here, welcome!
I thought I should introduce myself. I'm a freelance science writer & communicator with a PhD in ant behaviour. I mainly write about ecology, biodiversity & climate for a variety of publications including @mongabay.bsky.social & BBC Science Focus.
I thought I should introduce myself. I'm a freelance science writer & communicator with a PhD in ant behaviour. I mainly write about ecology, biodiversity & climate for a variety of publications including @mongabay.bsky.social & BBC Science Focus.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
What would you love to know about bio-inspired #robot movement? 🤖
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Dr. Amir Patel from @ucl.ac.uk about designing robots with the agility and manoeuvrability of a cheetah.
Send me your questions for Amir in the comments below! #Robotics
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Dr. Amir Patel from @ucl.ac.uk about designing robots with the agility and manoeuvrability of a cheetah.
Send me your questions for Amir in the comments below! #Robotics
November 4, 2025 at 11:02 AM
What would you love to know about bio-inspired #robot movement? 🤖
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Dr. Amir Patel from @ucl.ac.uk about designing robots with the agility and manoeuvrability of a cheetah.
Send me your questions for Amir in the comments below! #Robotics
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Dr. Amir Patel from @ucl.ac.uk about designing robots with the agility and manoeuvrability of a cheetah.
Send me your questions for Amir in the comments below! #Robotics
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
From thermal cameras to deep learning AI, researchers are reinventing how they study primates in the wild.
What began with Jane Goodall’s observational notes has evolved into artificial intelligence that identifies chimpanzees and decodes their social lives.
What began with Jane Goodall’s observational notes has evolved into artificial intelligence that identifies chimpanzees and decodes their social lives.
Primatology goes high tech — from bioacoustics to drones & AI
Riding in a helicopter, Fabiano Melo, with the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, searched for the elusive northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus), a large monkey in the northern Atlantic…
news.mongabay.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:21 PM
From thermal cameras to deep learning AI, researchers are reinventing how they study primates in the wild.
What began with Jane Goodall’s observational notes has evolved into artificial intelligence that identifies chimpanzees and decodes their social lives.
What began with Jane Goodall’s observational notes has evolved into artificial intelligence that identifies chimpanzees and decodes their social lives.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Halloween costume ideas for birders.
October 23, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Halloween costume ideas for birders.
Looking for recommendations!
Pls send me your favourite science / nature-themed gifts suitable for a 1-year old 🔭 🧬
Pls send me your favourite science / nature-themed gifts suitable for a 1-year old 🔭 🧬
October 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Looking for recommendations!
Pls send me your favourite science / nature-themed gifts suitable for a 1-year old 🔭 🧬
Pls send me your favourite science / nature-themed gifts suitable for a 1-year old 🔭 🧬
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
✨ New Bonus Episode! ✨
This month I've got a very special bonus episode to share with you!
I was invited to attend the Smart City Robotics Competition 🤖 where I chatted to competing teams, exhibiting companies, and members of the public.
🎧 Listen here: www.patreon.com/posts/140772... #Robotics
This month I've got a very special bonus episode to share with you!
I was invited to attend the Smart City Robotics Competition 🤖 where I chatted to competing teams, exhibiting companies, and members of the public.
🎧 Listen here: www.patreon.com/posts/140772... #Robotics
October 13, 2025 at 9:37 AM
✨ New Bonus Episode! ✨
This month I've got a very special bonus episode to share with you!
I was invited to attend the Smart City Robotics Competition 🤖 where I chatted to competing teams, exhibiting companies, and members of the public.
🎧 Listen here: www.patreon.com/posts/140772... #Robotics
This month I've got a very special bonus episode to share with you!
I was invited to attend the Smart City Robotics Competition 🤖 where I chatted to competing teams, exhibiting companies, and members of the public.
🎧 Listen here: www.patreon.com/posts/140772... #Robotics
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Antarctica may have passed a climate tipping point of no return, scientists are warning, with mounting evidence that a sudden slump in sea ice formation since 2016 is linked to human-induced ocean warming.
Antarctica may have crossed a tipping point that leads to rising seas
Scientists are beginning to understand the sudden loss of sea ice in Antarctica – and there is growing evidence that it represents a permanent shift with potentially catastrophic consequences
www.newscientist.com
October 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Antarctica may have passed a climate tipping point of no return, scientists are warning, with mounting evidence that a sudden slump in sea ice formation since 2016 is linked to human-induced ocean warming.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
In 2024, the Amazon Rainforest underwent its most devastating forest fire season in more than 20 years.
According to a new study, the fire-driven forest degradation released an estimated 791 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2024, a sevenfold increase compared with the previous two years.
According to a new study, the fire-driven forest degradation released an estimated 791 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2024, a sevenfold increase compared with the previous two years.
Amazon Rainforest hits record carbon emissions from 2024 forest fires
In 2024, the Amazon Rainforest underwent its most devastating forest fire season in more than two decades. According to a new study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, the fire-driven…
news.mongabay.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
In 2024, the Amazon Rainforest underwent its most devastating forest fire season in more than 20 years.
According to a new study, the fire-driven forest degradation released an estimated 791 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2024, a sevenfold increase compared with the previous two years.
According to a new study, the fire-driven forest degradation released an estimated 791 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2024, a sevenfold increase compared with the previous two years.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Just extraordinary to witness this nature-hating government sabotaging Labour’s own legacy. And for absolutely no reason: nature protection isn’t blocking development - it’s a necessary prerequisite for it (& for everything else, come to that…)
Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’ say green groups
Exclusive: Letter from 170-plus organisations calls on government to drop proposed changes to planning law
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Just extraordinary to witness this nature-hating government sabotaging Labour’s own legacy. And for absolutely no reason: nature protection isn’t blocking development - it’s a necessary prerequisite for it (& for everything else, come to that…)
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
WOW. Posting also to the 🧪 feed
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
WOW. Posting also to the 🧪 feed
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
🧪 NEW STUDY: Pregnant women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta are at increased risk of miscarriage.
Also: Microplastics were found in all placentas tested.
Also: Miscarriages are involuntary abortions.
1/5
www.ehn.org/miscarriage-...
Also: Microplastics were found in all placentas tested.
Also: Miscarriages are involuntary abortions.
1/5
www.ehn.org/miscarriage-...
Microplastics in the placenta linked to increased risk of miscarriage
In a recent study published by eBioMedicine, researchers found that women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta were at an increased risk of experiencing spontaneous miscarriage in the...
www.ehn.org
October 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
🧪 NEW STUDY: Pregnant women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta are at increased risk of miscarriage.
Also: Microplastics were found in all placentas tested.
Also: Miscarriages are involuntary abortions.
1/5
www.ehn.org/miscarriage-...
Also: Microplastics were found in all placentas tested.
Also: Miscarriages are involuntary abortions.
1/5
www.ehn.org/miscarriage-...
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Would you eat the ant-yoghurt? 🧪🏺🐜
Anthropologists make 'ant yogurt' from centuries-old recipe, serve it as an 'ant-wich' at Michelin-star restaurant
Researchers have revealed how adding a handful of live ants to warm milk can create yogurt.
www.livescience.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Would you eat the ant-yoghurt? 🧪🏺🐜
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Data from the Cassini spacecraft shows that there is complex organic chemistry happening in the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus.
It took 17 years to get the result! The finding boosts the case that life could possibly exist inside this little ice-covered world. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
It took 17 years to get the result! The finding boosts the case that life could possibly exist inside this little ice-covered world. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
October 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Data from the Cassini spacecraft shows that there is complex organic chemistry happening in the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus.
It took 17 years to get the result! The finding boosts the case that life could possibly exist inside this little ice-covered world. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
It took 17 years to get the result! The finding boosts the case that life could possibly exist inside this little ice-covered world. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
On the cusp of launching Season 6, Robot Talk has reached an exciting milestone: 50,000 downloads! 🎉
At this point, I'm running out of superlatives 😂. It's just amazing to see the podcast grow beyond what I ever imagined.
Thank you to everyone who's listened!
#Robots #Robotics #AI #Tech
At this point, I'm running out of superlatives 😂. It's just amazing to see the podcast grow beyond what I ever imagined.
Thank you to everyone who's listened!
#Robots #Robotics #AI #Tech
October 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
The Amazon’s “tipping point” refers to the transition of the rainforest into a drier, savanna ecosystem.
The rainforest’s ecological balance depends on the transport and recycling of moisture, but deforestation has been shown to disrupt the region’s water cycle.
The rainforest’s ecological balance depends on the transport and recycling of moisture, but deforestation has been shown to disrupt the region’s water cycle.
The fate of flying rivers could decide Amazon ‘tipping point,’ report says
Experts often warn about the “tipping point” for the Amazon, a scenario in which the rainforest collapses into a drier, less biodiverse savanna ecosystem. But the term “tipping point” is sometimes…
news.mongabay.com
September 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
The Amazon’s “tipping point” refers to the transition of the rainforest into a drier, savanna ecosystem.
The rainforest’s ecological balance depends on the transport and recycling of moisture, but deforestation has been shown to disrupt the region’s water cycle.
The rainforest’s ecological balance depends on the transport and recycling of moisture, but deforestation has been shown to disrupt the region’s water cycle.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Curious about environmental robotics? 🤖 🌳
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Prof. Stefano Mintchev from @ethz.ch about robots to explore and monitor the natural environment.
Send me your questions for Stefano in the comments below or on the Robot Talk website: robottalk.org/ask-a-question/
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Prof. Stefano Mintchev from @ethz.ch about robots to explore and monitor the natural environment.
Send me your questions for Stefano in the comments below or on the Robot Talk website: robottalk.org/ask-a-question/
September 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Curious about environmental robotics? 🤖 🌳
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Prof. Stefano Mintchev from @ethz.ch about robots to explore and monitor the natural environment.
Send me your questions for Stefano in the comments below or on the Robot Talk website: robottalk.org/ask-a-question/
Later this season, I'll be chatting to Prof. Stefano Mintchev from @ethz.ch about robots to explore and monitor the natural environment.
Send me your questions for Stefano in the comments below or on the Robot Talk website: robottalk.org/ask-a-question/
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
Climate warming could cause much greater soil carbon losses in the tropics than previously predicted, with potentially dire consequences for the global climate, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.
Warming triggers unprecedented carbon loss from tropical soils, study finds
Climate warming could cause much greater soil carbon losses in the tropics than previously predicted, with potentially dire consequences for the global climate, according to a new study published in…
news.mongabay.com
September 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Climate warming could cause much greater soil carbon losses in the tropics than previously predicted, with potentially dire consequences for the global climate, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
The buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) has mastered a very particular kind of camouflage.
When they close their wings up, they resemble a broken twig.
Native to large parts of Europe, there's regional pattern variation that reflects the local tree species. This one best resembles birch twigs?
When they close their wings up, they resemble a broken twig.
Native to large parts of Europe, there's regional pattern variation that reflects the local tree species. This one best resembles birch twigs?
September 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) has mastered a very particular kind of camouflage.
When they close their wings up, they resemble a broken twig.
Native to large parts of Europe, there's regional pattern variation that reflects the local tree species. This one best resembles birch twigs?
When they close their wings up, they resemble a broken twig.
Native to large parts of Europe, there's regional pattern variation that reflects the local tree species. This one best resembles birch twigs?
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
📢 I'm excited to announce that I'll be attending the Smart City Robotics Competition in Milton Keynes later this month!
I'll be chatting to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees about the latest innovations in robotics. 🤖
Find out more: www.patreon.com/posts/robot-... #Robotics #SmartCity
I'll be chatting to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees about the latest innovations in robotics. 🤖
Find out more: www.patreon.com/posts/robot-... #Robotics #SmartCity
September 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
📢 I'm excited to announce that I'll be attending the Smart City Robotics Competition in Milton Keynes later this month!
I'll be chatting to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees about the latest innovations in robotics. 🤖
Find out more: www.patreon.com/posts/robot-... #Robotics #SmartCity
I'll be chatting to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees about the latest innovations in robotics. 🤖
Find out more: www.patreon.com/posts/robot-... #Robotics #SmartCity
Tropical soils are more sensitive to warming than previously thought.
In a field experiment in Puerto Rico, warming understory plants and topsoil by 4°C increased CO2 emissions by between 42% and 204%, depending on the terrain. 🧪
My latest for @mongabay.com: news.mongabay.com/2025/09/warm...
In a field experiment in Puerto Rico, warming understory plants and topsoil by 4°C increased CO2 emissions by between 42% and 204%, depending on the terrain. 🧪
My latest for @mongabay.com: news.mongabay.com/2025/09/warm...
Warming triggers unprecedented carbon loss from tropical soils, study finds
Climate warming could cause much greater soil carbon losses in the tropics than previously predicted, with potentially dire consequences for the global climate, according to a new study published in N...
news.mongabay.com
September 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Tropical soils are more sensitive to warming than previously thought.
In a field experiment in Puerto Rico, warming understory plants and topsoil by 4°C increased CO2 emissions by between 42% and 204%, depending on the terrain. 🧪
My latest for @mongabay.com: news.mongabay.com/2025/09/warm...
In a field experiment in Puerto Rico, warming understory plants and topsoil by 4°C increased CO2 emissions by between 42% and 204%, depending on the terrain. 🧪
My latest for @mongabay.com: news.mongabay.com/2025/09/warm...
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
New Quanta Magazine series on climate science. I was one of the people interviewed for this months ago and happy to start digging in now!
www.quantamagazine.org/how-we-came-...
www.quantamagazine.org/how-we-came-...
How We Came To Know Earth | Quanta Magazine
Climate science is the most significant scientific collaboration in history. This series from Quanta Magazine guides you through basic climate science — from quantum effects to ancient hothouses, from...
www.quantamagazine.org
September 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
New Quanta Magazine series on climate science. I was one of the people interviewed for this months ago and happy to start digging in now!
www.quantamagazine.org/how-we-came-...
www.quantamagazine.org/how-we-came-...
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
The Brazilian Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland and home to the highest density of jaguars anywhere.
Thousands of tourists arrive every year to see the animals in their natural habitat
But the boom in tourism has created new problems.
Thousands of tourists arrive every year to see the animals in their natural habitat
But the boom in tourism has created new problems.
Overcrowding threatens sustainability of jaguar ecotourism in Brazil’s Pantanal
The Brazilian Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland and home to the highest density of jaguars anywhere. Thousands of tourists arrive every year to see the animals in their natural habitat But the…
news.mongabay.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
The Brazilian Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland and home to the highest density of jaguars anywhere.
Thousands of tourists arrive every year to see the animals in their natural habitat
But the boom in tourism has created new problems.
Thousands of tourists arrive every year to see the animals in their natural habitat
But the boom in tourism has created new problems.
Reposted by Dr Claire Asher
The daily destruction of nature’s carbon stores is happening right before our eyes, as forests are ravaged by catastrophic wildfires and vast tracts of wildlands are cleared for agriculture.
But even greater stores of carbon lie hidden beneath our feet, and they too are under threat.
But even greater stores of carbon lie hidden beneath our feet, and they too are under threat.
Soil carbon: Crucial ally or potential threat to net-zero commitments?
The daily destruction of nature’s carbon stores is happening right before our eyes, as forests are ravaged by catastrophic wildfires and vast tracts of wildlands are cleared for agriculture. But even…
news.mongabay.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The daily destruction of nature’s carbon stores is happening right before our eyes, as forests are ravaged by catastrophic wildfires and vast tracts of wildlands are cleared for agriculture.
But even greater stores of carbon lie hidden beneath our feet, and they too are under threat.
But even greater stores of carbon lie hidden beneath our feet, and they too are under threat.
In my latest feature for @mongabay.com, I look into the current state and future outlook for the #soil carbon sink. It stores an astonishing 2.5 trillion metric tons of carbon (in just the top 2m!), but is at risk of becoming a net CO2 source as the climate warms 🧪 news.mongabay.com/2025/09/soil...
Soil carbon: Crucial ally or potential threat to net-zero commitments?
The daily destruction of nature’s carbon stores is happening right before our eyes, as forests are ravaged by catastrophic wildfires and vast tracts of wildlands are cleared for agriculture. But even ...
news.mongabay.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
In my latest feature for @mongabay.com, I look into the current state and future outlook for the #soil carbon sink. It stores an astonishing 2.5 trillion metric tons of carbon (in just the top 2m!), but is at risk of becoming a net CO2 source as the climate warms 🧪 news.mongabay.com/2025/09/soil...
I'm absolutely thrilled to see my lovely and very talented friend Matthew Hutchinson interviewed in the @theguardian.com this week about his experiences as a black doctor in the NHS.
I'm really looking forward to reading his book when it comes out! www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
I'm really looking forward to reading his book when it comes out! www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
‘You’re the only port of call for 400 hospital patients, which is absurd’: Matthew Hutchinson on the perils of life as an NHS doctor
He’s a rheumatologist, a standup comedian – and now the author of a memoir. He talks about racism in healthcare, why Covid was the only time urgent care was properly staffed – and his beef with cardio...
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'm absolutely thrilled to see my lovely and very talented friend Matthew Hutchinson interviewed in the @theguardian.com this week about his experiences as a black doctor in the NHS.
I'm really looking forward to reading his book when it comes out! www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
I'm really looking forward to reading his book when it comes out! www.theguardian.com/society/2025...